When you’re home and away

You might assume that a smart doorbell or security camera can track your comings and goings, but more mundane-seeming appliances can glean this information too. A smart meter or thermostat can tell if you’re home – and potentially what you’re doing – based on your energy use. A connected light bulb could reveal if the lights are on or off. This can be a particular problem in the context of intimate partner violence, says Tanczer; such devices could alert a perpetrator of their victim’s whereabouts. Remote operation could even allow an abuser to torment their victim from afar, for example by controlling their energy usage. “That’s really the brutality of the IoT [internet of things]. You don’t have to be physically present with someone to make their life really miserable,” she says. (If you, or someone you know, is in this position, visit Women’s Aid for specialist help and advice.)

From your bedroom’s floorplan to your financial position: everything your smart home knows about you – and why it matters